Rheological treatment of brain ischemia by drag reducing polymers

Abstract

Methods and compositions for the treatment of acute or chronic cerebral ischemia by delivery of linear, blood soluble, non-toxic macromolecules.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating, ameliorating or preventing acute and chronic brain ischemia comprising delivering to a subject a dosage of a drag reducing polymer (DRP) wherein the DRP is a linear, blood soluble non-toxic macromolecule with a molecular weight over 106 Daltons. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the dosage of drag reducing polymer produces a concentration of DRP in the subject's blood of between 0.1 and 5 ppm. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the ischemia is chronic. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the subject is diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or other types of vascular dementia. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3  wherein multiple dosages are delivered to the subject in order to maintain the concentration of DRP in the subject's blood between 0.1 and 5 ppm for an extended period of time. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the extended period of time is longer than one week. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the extended period of time is longer than one month. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising measuring the blood flow of the subject's blood. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the dosage produces an improvement in blood flow compared to the blood flow prior to treatment. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein multiple dosages are delivered to the subject in order to maintain the improved blood flow. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the DRP is polyethylene oxide. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject is at risk for an ischemic event, but is not suffering from an ischemic event at the time of delivery. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising delivering multiple dosages to maintain a concentration of DRP in the subject's blood of between 0.5 and 5 ppm for an extended period of time. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein the subject has suffered from a stroke and is no longer eligible for tPA treatment. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  wherein the ischemia is acute.